PRESIDING JUDGE KEVIN C. BRAZILE UPDATES GENERAL ORDER ON MANDATORY USE OF FACIAL COVERINGS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS IN ALL LOS ANGELES ...
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www.lacourt.org @LASuperiorCourt
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 6, 2020
PRESIDING JUDGE KEVIN C. BRAZILE UPDATES GENERAL
ORDER ON MANDATORY USE OF FACIAL COVERINGS AND
SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS IN ALL LOS ANGELES
COUNTY COURTHOUSES AND COURTROOMS
Presiding Judge Kevin C. Brazile today signed an updated General Order mandating
facial coverings and social distancing requirements in all 38 Superior Court of Los
Angeles County courthouses and courtrooms. Under the Order, all persons entering any
courthouse or courtroom must wear a face covering/mask over his or her nose and
mouth at all times within the public areas of the courthouse or courtroom. Individuals
who wear a face shield must ensure it covers both the nose and the mouth, wraps
around the sides of a wearer’s face and extend to below the chin with a cloth drape from
the bottom of the face shield to below the neck.
“The more we learn about COVID-19 and measures to slow its spread, it is imperative to
follow the evolving local, state and federal public health protocols,” Presiding Judge
Brazile said. “Face shields should not be used in place of a mask or cloth face covering
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the absence of data that
face shields alone provide adequate protection from respiratory droplets, I am amending
my June 5 General Order on face coverings to specify face shield requirements, including
the use of a cloth drape.”
Children under the age of three (3) are exempt from the Order.
Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that precludes
them from wearing a face covering are exempt from today’s Order. However, they must
“take whatever protective measures their co ndition permits, such as wearing a face
shield without a drape on the bottom edge,” according to the Order.
-MORE-GENERAL ORDER
2-2-2-2
Individuals with disabilities who seek an exemption from this Order as a reasonable
accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Rule 1.100 of
the California Rules of Court should contact the ADA liaison at each courthouse. A list of
liaisons is available at www.lacourt.org/ada/adahome.aspx.
Under the Order:
• To reduce the risk of contagion, the matters of individuals exempted from wearing
a mask may be scheduled when fewer people are present.
• Non-exempt individuals who decline or refuse to wear a mask or face covering will
be denied entry to the courthouse and/or courtroom.
• Individuals who remove their masks or face coverings after entering the
courthouse or courtroom will be reminded to wear them. If they refuse, they may
be denied services, may have their legal matters rescheduled, and/or will be asked
to leave the courthouse or courtroom immediately.
• Persons who refuse to leave voluntarily will be escorted out of the courthouse
and/or courtroom by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department personnel.
• Individuals are required to maintain at least (6) six feet of physical distance from
all persons (except those within their household) at all times, and comply with
social distance signage throughout the courthouse.
• Use hand sanitizer when entering the courthouse, practice good hand-washing
hygiene, and cover coughs and sneezes, preferably with a tissue.
The Order, which is attached, is effective immediately and will remain in effect until
further notice.
Judicial officers and employees also are required to wear masks or facial coverings in all
courthouses, courtrooms and public spaces unless they have a medical exemption. The
Court has provided judicial officers and employees with two cloth face coverings for their
use.
The Court must fulfill its statutory duties while safeguarding the well-being of the public
it serves. For more information on the Court’s Here For You | Safe For You initiative,
visit the Court’s home page (www.lacourt.org) and follow us on Twitter
(@LASuperiorCourt).
###FILED 2020-GEN-0 16-01
Superior Court of CaIlfurnia
County of Los Angeles
1 JUL 062020
2 Sherrt 5Carter, Euthe Officer/Clerk
By h 7aic.’. ,Deputy
3 C—’Kjzaflflda Mina
4 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
5 FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
6
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER OF THE GENERAL ORDER
7 PRESIDING JUDGE RE MANDATORY
FACIAL COVERINGS AND SOCIAL
8 DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS IN
EFFECT DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
9
10
ii In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, national, state and local elected officials declared
12 states of emergency within their respective jurisdictions. Executive orders and orders from public
13 health authorities required individuals to remain in their homes (Safe-at-Home Orders) to slow and
14 reduce the transmission of this novel coronavirus.
15 On March 4, 2020, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (Board) and the Los
16 Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) declared a local and public health
17 emergency in response to the increased spread of the novel coronavirus across the County of Los
18 Angeles.
19 On Friday, March 13, 2020, President Donald J. Trump declared a national emergency over
20 the novel coronavirus outbreak.
21 On March 19, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom and City of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti
22 both issued, respectively, Stay at Home and Safer at Home orders.
23 On March 21, 2020, Public Health issued a revised Safer at Home Order for the Control of
24 Covid-19 that prohibits all indoor and outdoor public and private gatherings and events. The order
25 also requires businesses, except those defined as an Essential Business, to cease in-person operations
26 and close to the public. The order requires individuals to maintain a physical separation from others
27 of at least six (6) feet and advises persons 65 years of age and over and persons with underlying
28 health conditions to avoid person-to-person contact.
ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY OF THE PRESIDING JUDGE RE FACIAL COVERINGS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING2020-GEN-0 16-01
1 On May 29, 2020, Public Health issued a revised order regarding Reopening Safer at Work
2 and in the Community for Control of Covid-19. Among other things, it provides, “People leaving
3 their residences must strictly comply with the Social (Physical) Distancing requirements stated in
4 this Order and specified in guidance or protocols estabLished by the County Department of Public
5 Health; this includes wearing a cloth face covering whenever there is or can be contact with others
6 who are non-household members in both public and private places, which reduces the risk of
7 transmission to others from people who do not have symptoms. The use of face coverings is
8 commonly referred to as “source control.” County of Los Angeles Public Health Department Order
9 of the Health Officer, May 29, 2020, p.2, paragraph 3b.
10 The Court must fulfill its statutory duties while safeguarding the well-being of the public it
II serves. In the absence of a cure, treatment, or effective vaccine for the highly contagious novel
12 coronaviws, social distancing, face coverings and good hygiene are the only tools available to slow
13 or prevent its spread. The Court has taken extensive measures to reduce the number of persons
14 coming to its courthouses, including limiting the matters to be heard on any given day, spreading the
15 scheduling of cases, directing prospective jurors to courtrooms instead ofjury assembly rooms,
16 facilitating remote telephonic/video court transactions with the virtual Clerk’s Office, online and
17 remote Self-Help services, remote mediations, teleworking employees, encouraging counsel and
IS litigants to appear remotely, and implementing scheduled appointments for in-person transactions at
19 the courthouse.
20 To prevent or slow the spread of Covid-l9 and to protect the health of court users, pursuant
21 to Code Civ. Proc. § 128; Gov. Code § 68070, Cal. Rules of Court, rule 10.603, and the inherent
22 powers of the Court (hi re Reno (2012) 65 Ca1.4 428, 522), and in compliance with state and local
23 public health guidelines, THIS COURT HEREBY FINDS, AND ORDERS’ AS FOLLOWS:
24 1. All persons entering any courthouse or courtroom shall wear a face covering/mask over his or
25 her nose and mouth at all times within public areas of the courthouse or courtroom. Face
26 coverings may include a mask, scarf, or any other fabric that covers both the mouth and nose.
27 Individuals who elect to wear face shields must ensure that the shield covers both the nose and
28
1This order supersedes and replaces the Court’s June 5, 2020 order on face coverings.
2
ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY OF THE PRESIDING JUDGE RE FACIAL COVERINGS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING2020-GEN-0 16-01
1 mouth. The face shield must wrap around the sides of the wearer’s face and extend to below
2 the chin with a cloth drape from the bottom of the face shield to below the neck. Children
3 under the age of three (3) are exempt from the order.
4 2. Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that precludes them
5 from wearing a face covering are exempt from this order. Nevertheless, they must take
6 whatever protective measures their condition permits, such as wearing a face shield without a
7 drape on the bottom edge. Individuals with disabilities who seek an exemption from this order
8 as a reasonable accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act or Rule 1.100
9 of the California Rules of Court, should contact the ADA liaison at the courthouse. A list of
10 ADA liaisons is available at www.Iacourt.or&ada/adahome.aspx. To reduce the risk of
II contagion, the matters of individuals exempted from wearing a mask may be scheduled when
12 fewer people are present.
13 3. Non-exempt individuals who decline or refuse to wear a mask or face covering will be denied
14 entry to the courthouse and/or courtroom.
15 4. Individuals who remove their masks or face covering after entering the courthouse or
16 courtroom will be reminded to wear them. If they refuse, they may be denied services, may
17 have their legal matters rescheduled, and/or will be asked to leave the courthouse or courtroom
18 immediately. Persons who refuse to leave voluntarily will be escorted out of the courthouse
19 and/or courtroom by Los Angeles Sheriff Department’s personnel.
20 5. Maintain at least six (6) feet of physical distance from all persons (except those within your
2! household) at all times. Comply with social distance signage throughout the courthouse.
22 6. Use hand sanitizer when entering the courthouse, practice good hand washing hygiene. and
23 cover coughs and sneezes, preferably with a tissue.
24 THIS ORDER IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, AND REPLACES AND
25 SUPERSEDES THE JUNE 5, 2020 FACE COVERING ORDER, AND WILL REMAIN
IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
26
Dated: July 6, 2020
27
28 KEVIN C. BRAZILE//
Presiding Judge
ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY OF THE FACIAL COVERINGS AND SOCIAL DISTANCINGYou can also read
